1. Describe the stasis in the play: where, when, who, what, etc. in a paragraph.
The play opens in the Upper East Side in New York City. The main characters are a Muslim attorney named Amir, his wife an artist named Emily, and his nephew who has changed his name to Abe to assimilate himself into the modern American culture.
2. What is the intrusion?
The intrusion occurs with the New York Times publishing with Amir’s name. This publication connects Amir to the Islam leader Imam, and it creates conflict for him at work that eventually leads to him losing his job.
3. What is the unique factor?
This is the day that Amir comes to realize that he is no longer the person that he thought he was.
4. What is the dramatic question that should be answered by the end of the play?
Will Amir come to terms with who he is? Will he be able to find himself as a Muslim man living in New York City post 9/11?
5. Provide an illustration of the two kinds of exposition that the play has in it.
One example of exposition in the play occurs at the dinner party when Amir begins to drunkenly reveal some of his feelings about the 9/11 attacks. Another example of exposition seen in the play occurs when Emily and Isaac are alone and the audience learns that they once had an affair.
6. Identify the most theatrical moment in the play and of what importance it seems to be.
The most theatrical moment occurs throughout the dinner party. In that dinner party, Amir loses everything. He learns that he’s going to lose his job, and he loses his wife because he learns that she has cheated on him. Other theatrical moments in the dinner party includes Amir’s expressing pride in the 9/11 attacks and his beating of Emily for cheating on him.
7. List some of the themes of the play.
Acceptance, interracial/intercultural marriages, and self-delusion are all examples in the play, but perhaps the most important theme in the play is identity. Amir is still very much confused on whether he should fully embrace his Islamic background and culture or completely assimilate himself into the modern American culture. His nephew, Abe, also struggles with the same identity issue.
8. What does the chief character want and what are some obstacles that stand in the way of his getting what he wants?
Amir wishes to be successful in the law firm and to be very much a part of the American culture, but he faces obstacles such as the publication in the New York Times and being a Muslim man in New York City post-9/11.
9. Describe some possible images in the play and how does the title help us understand the play.
The painting of the slave in Emily and Amir’s apartment fascinates Emily because of its theme of racism, but it also represents Amir’s enslavement to live his life to its fullest potential because he has not yet discovered who he truly is. Another image seen in the play is Amir’s shirts. He wears the finest shirts so that he can be seen as a successful attorney, and it represents his longing to be seen past his cultural background.
10. Briefly define the family relationships that are examined in the play.
Abe and Amir have a difficult relationship because Abe tries to live as both a Muslim man and a modern American, but Amir feels that one person cannot live both of those lives. Amir and Emily have a complicated relationship as well because Emily cannot relate to Amir’s struggles as a Muslim man in America. One question that the relationship between Amir and Emily brings is can people with different cultural backgrounds live in harmony?
The play opens in the Upper East Side in New York City. The main characters are a Muslim attorney named Amir, his wife an artist named Emily, and his nephew who has changed his name to Abe to assimilate himself into the modern American culture.
2. What is the intrusion?
The intrusion occurs with the New York Times publishing with Amir’s name. This publication connects Amir to the Islam leader Imam, and it creates conflict for him at work that eventually leads to him losing his job.
3. What is the unique factor?
This is the day that Amir comes to realize that he is no longer the person that he thought he was.
4. What is the dramatic question that should be answered by the end of the play?
Will Amir come to terms with who he is? Will he be able to find himself as a Muslim man living in New York City post 9/11?
5. Provide an illustration of the two kinds of exposition that the play has in it.
One example of exposition in the play occurs at the dinner party when Amir begins to drunkenly reveal some of his feelings about the 9/11 attacks. Another example of exposition seen in the play occurs when Emily and Isaac are alone and the audience learns that they once had an affair.
6. Identify the most theatrical moment in the play and of what importance it seems to be.
The most theatrical moment occurs throughout the dinner party. In that dinner party, Amir loses everything. He learns that he’s going to lose his job, and he loses his wife because he learns that she has cheated on him. Other theatrical moments in the dinner party includes Amir’s expressing pride in the 9/11 attacks and his beating of Emily for cheating on him.
7. List some of the themes of the play.
Acceptance, interracial/intercultural marriages, and self-delusion are all examples in the play, but perhaps the most important theme in the play is identity. Amir is still very much confused on whether he should fully embrace his Islamic background and culture or completely assimilate himself into the modern American culture. His nephew, Abe, also struggles with the same identity issue.
8. What does the chief character want and what are some obstacles that stand in the way of his getting what he wants?
Amir wishes to be successful in the law firm and to be very much a part of the American culture, but he faces obstacles such as the publication in the New York Times and being a Muslim man in New York City post-9/11.
9. Describe some possible images in the play and how does the title help us understand the play.
The painting of the slave in Emily and Amir’s apartment fascinates Emily because of its theme of racism, but it also represents Amir’s enslavement to live his life to its fullest potential because he has not yet discovered who he truly is. Another image seen in the play is Amir’s shirts. He wears the finest shirts so that he can be seen as a successful attorney, and it represents his longing to be seen past his cultural background.
10. Briefly define the family relationships that are examined in the play.
Abe and Amir have a difficult relationship because Abe tries to live as both a Muslim man and a modern American, but Amir feels that one person cannot live both of those lives. Amir and Emily have a complicated relationship as well because Emily cannot relate to Amir’s struggles as a Muslim man in America. One question that the relationship between Amir and Emily brings is can people with different cultural backgrounds live in harmony?